Steelers linebacker James Harrison returns an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII, on the last play of the first half. Not much debate here, although Big Bens tackle came up, as did Santonios catch (and Bens throw) in Super Bowl XLIII.

BEST PLAYER

Hines Ward, WR  Alan Faneca made more Pro Bowls, Ben Roethlisberger played a higher-profile position and Troy Polamalu was more spectacular, but Ward was consistently productive, hugely clutch and as tough as any player in the league. Ask Ed Reed or Keith Rivers.

BEST GAME

Super Bowl XLIII  Steelers 27, Cardinals 23: Featured two of the best plays in Super Bowl history and a dramatic game-winning drive that began on the Steelers' 12.

1. The '09 Steelers lose to Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland (happened in a span of 18 days).

2. Terry Bradshaw make up with Steelers fans (happened at halftime of a Monday Night game in '02).

3. A punt stick in the mud like a javelin (happened on "Muddy Night Football" game vs. Dolphins).

4. A team try 38 passes in a blizzard (happened in the Meadowlands, courtesy of O-coordinator Mike Mularkey).

5. One team outgain another, 422-47, and lose (happened to the Steelers, against the expansion Texans, in 2002).

PRIZED CATCHES

1. Polamalu scoops one off the grass vs. Chargers.

2. Big Ben corrals Nick Harper by a shoestring

3. Polamalu delivers leaping one-hander vs. Titans

4. Larry Johnson comes up with a fistful of Polamalu's pony tail.

HIDEOUS COACHING DECISIONS

1. Bruce Arians sends Big Ben around left end on designed run late in playoff game vs. Jags, forcing punt that leads to loss.

2. Bill Cowher insists on putting shaky Ricardo Colclough under punts, including one Colclough muffs in critical loss to Bengals.

3. Mike Tomlin goes for two-point conversion from 12-yard line, down by five with more than 10 minutes left in what would become a two-point playoff loss to Jags.

4. Bruce Arians orders 42 pass plays  including shotgun on third-and-1 on the first series  and only 22 running plays on a viciously cold and windy night in Cleveland, against a banged-up defense that couldn't stop the run when all its guys were healthy.

Oct. 7, 2001 — Steelers beat Bengals, 16-7, in first game at Heinz Field, one that was postponed after 9/11.

WE WROTE IT

"The Steelers' latest millionaire traveled all night from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh, stuffed near the back of the airplane like any other passenger. 'Between the two biggest people on the plane,' he said. No first-class ticket for first-round draft choice Troy Polamalu? 'It really doesn't matter,' he said. What matters to Polamalu — even more, he said, than the five-year, $8.275 million contract he signed Monday — is that the sick feeling in his stomach disappeared. Polamalu said he felt ashamed that he was home while his Steelers teammates reported to training camp Friday." — Steelers writer Jerry DiPaola, training camp '03

THEY SAID IT

"Exciting? No, it's not exciting. Do you want to go work with some little young kid who's just out of college?" — Alan Faneca, on rookie Ben Roethlisberger's first start replacing Tommy Maddox.

"We're going to unleash hell here in December." — Mike Tomlin, 2009, just before consecutive losses to Oakland and Cleveland.

"You heard me. I called him 'Plexiglass' because he's so fragile." — Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe, ripping Plaxico Burress.

"Ben does not have broken toes. We are unaware of any problems with his toes, OK?" — Bill Cowher, responding to Roethlisberger's assertion that he played with broken toes in AFC title-game loss to Patriots.

"We're going to win. Yeah, I can guarantee a win." — Anthony Smith, four days before he is torched by Tom Brady and Randy Moss in lopsided loss to Patriots.

Joe Starkey can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com or 412-320-7810.

Angus Burgher

12-22-2009, 05:48 PM

3. Limas Sweed drops sure TD in AFC title game (and fakes an injury), drops another another the next season at Cinci.

Sweed faked an injury?

mesaSteeler

12-22-2009, 05:53 PM

3. Limas Sweed drops sure TD in AFC title game (and fakes an injury), drops another another the next season at Cinci.

Sweed faked an injury?

I seem to remember he did but this would not be surprising since he fakes catching the ball.

slippy

12-22-2009, 07:01 PM

he laid on the field (in shame) after the drop costing the steelers a time out (or 10 second run off) near the end of the half.

that 50 yard bomb TD to a WIDE open sweed would have started a blowout (steelers would have led 20-7), instead we were in a dogfight in the second half.

KeiselPower99

12-22-2009, 07:37 PM

How I loved the Lee Flowers comment.

AllD

12-22-2009, 10:11 PM

Bill Cowher stuffs a photo into a refs front pocket of 11 players on the field after the team received an unjust penalty for having 12 men on the field.

StainlessStill

12-23-2009, 12:33 AM

Fu's game winning Touchdown against Cleveland in the 2002, WILD comeback in the AFC Wild Card game, rallying from 17 points and multiple lead changes in the last 5 minutes to squeak by the Browns and advance to the Divisional round against Tennessee.

Kordell Stewart single handily beating the vaunted and surging Oakland Raiders in a 2000 underdog match up. Janikowski missed a sure FG to seal Oaklands fate while Stewart came back out the 2nd half hurt and breathed new life into his career.

Big Ben going 13-0 as a rookie and reaching the title game. A week before the AFC Title Loss, The Jets squandered and blew a sure win after Doug Brien missed 3 FG's to keep Pittsburgh in the game and to eventually win it in OT.

Being the first EVER 6th seeded team to win the Super Bowl.

Ben guaranteeing the Bus that if he stays one more year that he'd promise to get him back to the Title Game.

2004: Beating two back to back undefeated teams in Pittsburgh, ending N.E's regular season winning streak. (N.E/Philly)

Mike Wallace's Super Bowl 43-like game winning catch against Green Bay with 0:00 left on the clock to keep the 2009 Steelers faint playoff hopes alive and well.

markymarc

12-23-2009, 12:28 PM

That was a great read and thanks for sharing it Mesa!

supa_fly_steeler

12-23-2009, 01:01 PM

lol loving that we ended the patriots streak and now the colts just beat it :tt04::tt04::tt04::tt04::tt04::tt04::tt04::tt04::t t04:

4xSBChamps

12-23-2009, 01:40 PM

Kordell Stewart single handily beating the vaunted and surging Oakland Raiders in a 2000 underdog match up. Janikowski missed a sure FG to seal Oaklands fate while Stewart came back out the 2nd half hurt and breathed new life into his career.

was that the game where Kordell took a nasty hit to the chops, and suffered a gash on his jaw, yet led a comeback?

A few mentioned above (Bettis taking a pre-game shot that rendered him out-of-action for a playoff game, Cowher stuffing a photo into an Officials pocket) happened in the 1990's, I believe, but it's a nice list of memories

What happened 37 years ago today?
:wink02:

Dino 6 Rings

12-23-2009, 01:51 PM

Immaculate Reception

warddj86

12-23-2009, 04:28 PM

good work, i enjoyed reading that, hope the boys can push in and get healthier and make an attempt